Stand



y 3, 1951 D. PERLSTEIN 2,559,317

w STAND Filed Feb. 6, 1948 INVENTOR. BYDAVID PER N AIRWQKSQM ENT Patented July 3, 1951 STAND David Perlstein, New Rochelle, N. Y., assignor to Rona Laboratories Inc., Mount Vernon, N. Y.,

a corporation of New York Application February 6, 1948, Serial No. 6,747

4 Claims.

This invention relates to laboratory apparatus and more particularly to a device for holding laboratory equipment such as beakers, ilasksand the like.

In modern chemical laboratory operations, glass beakers of varying sizes from below 10 ml. capacity to above 4 liters are frequently em- .ployed as containers for storing, mixing, heating, transferring and reacting various chemical mixtures andcompounds. As the size of the beaker increases, it becomes more dificult to manipulate, .e. .g. with beakers of low volume capacity, tongs may be employed to manipulate the beaker but when larger beakers areemployed, especially those having acapacity of aliter ormore the use of tongs becomes impractical due to both the increased size of the beaker and to its increased weight which is due mainly to the larger volume of its contents.

This problem is very serious when the beaker is employed with a laboratory stirrer. When high speed stirring is used, there is atendency for .the beaker to move due to the vibratory action of the stirrer. This may cause the wall of the beaker to comein contact with the stirrer blade and cause the breakage of either the stirrerorthe beaker or both. A "further problem is the difiiculty of transporting and performing manipulating movements such as pouring with large vbeakers which are filled dangerous contents.

with hot and/or Another problem is that when beakers with their contents are heated, theresis a tendency for bumping of the contents-With consequential movement of the-beaker.

This invention has an object to provide a device for holding laboratory equipment such as beakers.

A further object is to provide a device for permitting laboratory equipment such as beakers to .be clamped to a laboratory ring stand.

A still further object is to provide a device for permitting laboratory equipment such as beakers to be-heated. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

These and other objects are accomplished by the following invention in which there is provided a device for holding laboratory apparatus comprising a base having means for permitting the application of heat to said apparatus, a frame mounted on said base, the frame-having means for holding said apparatusabove said baseand means for clamping said device to a suitable support.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the present device clamped to a laboratory stand with a beaker held therein, the contents of said beaker bein heated by a laboratory burner and agitated by a laboratory stirrer;

means embodied in the present invention for clamping said device to the laboratory support.

With reference to Figure 1, the present inven tion it) is shown connected by clamping means 12 through the use of a suitable laboratory clamp M to laboratory stand it. The beaker [8 held in place by means of the present inventionis being heated by laboratory burner 20 and the contents .of the beaker are being agitated by stirring rod 22 which is attached by chuck 24 to laboratory stirrer 26.

Referring to the drawing as a whole, invention [0 comprises circular base 28 having as shown inFigure 4, an annular heating aperture-21. On base 28 is mounted a frame comprising a plurality of vertical bars 29, 3.0, 3|, 32, 33 secured to the base 28 by horizontal flanges 34 welded to the base 2d. The vertical bars 29, 30, 3|, 32, 33 are joined together at their upper extremities ,by an upper arcuated horizontal member II which extends from vertical bar 29 to vertical bar 33 but does not join vertical bar 29 to vertical bar 33. Median horizontal member 36 joins vertical bars 29 and 33 at a place approximately halfway between base 28 and the lower edge of arcuatedmeniber ll. Both horizontal members I! and 36 are secured to the Vertical-bars by ,Welds. The fact that arcuated member ll does not extend for the full periphery of the top eX- tremity of vertical bars 28 to 33 permits the facile pouring of the contents of beaker l8 through .beaker lip l9. ,mounted means for holding the beaker in position. These holding means comprise three units, each unit comprising, as shown for the unit on On vertical bars 29, 3|, 33 are vertical bar 33, two spring actuated members with the lower member comprising disc 31, stud 3,8, and spring 39, and the upper member comprising disc 4!, stud 12 and spring 43; These members acting in combination actuate holding The three units functioning through holding leaves 40, as hold beaker l8 in position-and together formthe holding means.

As shown in Figure 5 there is mounted on ,vertical bar 3| an arcuate member H a detachable clamping means [2 having a threaded .pro-

jection 9 which is screwed into threaded socketii. Hence alternative clamping means having a different form than clamping meansIZ given in ,Figure 5 may .be inserted inlieu thereof.

Attached tolvertical bars 29 and 3il is handle 59 Wrapped with asbestos sheet 52. On vertical bars 3Z 'and ,3,3, there is also. attached .a similarhandle J5 [wrapped with asbestos sheet 5 3.

springs and the like.

If desired an asbestos centered wire gauze 54 may be inserted by passing it between vertical bars 29 and 33 and under holding leaves 40, 44,

46. The lateral edges 56 and 58 of the asbestos,

centered wire gauze 54 being cut away to per-' mit the passage between vertical bars 29 and 33, The function of the asbestos centered wire gauze 54 is to spread the heat given off by burner 20 in an even manner rather than focusing it on one point of beaker l8.

While I have shown in my example a form of a device for holding laboratory equipment such as beakers, my invention is not limited thereto but comprises all modifications of this device which are apparent to one skilled in the art. For example while the holding means were shown as consisting of three units the invention is not limited to this number but comprises any device embodying at least one of such units. Furthermore, while the holding leaves were shown as'flat members they may be curved to conform to the shape of the laboratory vessel which is to be held in place. While the holding leaves in the present example were coil spring actuated they might be actuated by other forms of springs such as leaf springs, plate springs, conical helical Although the invention is preferably in the form shown the handles 50 and may be dispensed with and a suitable attachment inserted in socket 8 in lieu of clamping means I2 or preferably in combination therewith to be used as a handle; or the handles 50 and 5| ma be modified both as to their shape and insulation covering. Also while horizontal arcuate member I I has been described as extending along the top extremity of the vertical bars it may be advantageously lowered, similarly clamping means [2 can also be relocated and median horizontal member 36 disposed with.

Furthermore notwithstanding that base 28 is preferably constructed as shown, suitable gauze and/or asbestos gauze or other heat scattering means may be incorporated directly into base 28 with the consequential dispensing of the use of asbestos centered wire gauze 54. Other variations readily apparent to the skilled mechanic such as the use of difierent construction materials for the present invention such as stainless steel, steel, Monel metal, iron, bronze, aluminum alloys and plastics; or locating the holding means in a different position; constructing the frame and base out of a single piece'of metal or plastic and later punching suitable spaces therein; modifying the shape and size of detachable clamping means 12 etc. are considered to be encompassed in the present invention and covered in the appended claims.

The present invention may be used for beakers of differing sizes, the size of the beaker and the range of beaker sizes will determine the size of the present device. As previously stated the holding leaves may be curved or shaped to conform to other type laboratory vessels such as Florence flasks, Erlenmeyer flasks, bottles, flasks, test tubes, bowls, bulbs, crucibles, dishes, jars and the like. The ends of studs 38 and 42 may be threaded and suitably shaped leaves may be interchangeably screwed thereon. Through the use of the present invention, the operations of pouring, heating, stirring, and transporting laboratory vessels and their contents may be safely and securely carried out with the laboratory vessel and its contents visible at all times. Furthermore when dealing with explosive chemicals suitable wire gauze cutouts may be wrapped 4 around the frame of this device ensuring a great amount of protection for the laboratory technician in the event of an explosion.

I claim:

1. A device for holding laboratory apparatus comprising a base, a frame mounted on said base comprising spaced rigid vertical bars, said frame having an upper member joining said bars,

handles attached to said vertical bars, a plurality of leaves, each of said leaves attached to a vertical bar by pin and spring means, said spring pressing each of said leaves therefrom whereby the laboratory apparatus is firmly retained in said holding device.

2. A device for holding laboratory apparatus comprising a base, a frame mounted on said base comprising spaced rigid vertical bars, said frame having an upper member joining said bars, wherein said upper member is provided with a removed section, whereby a portion of said laboratory apparatus is exposed between said vertical bars, handles attached to said vertical bars, a plurality of leaves, each of said leaves attached to a vertical bar by pin and spring means, said spring pressing each of said leaves therefrom whereby the laboratory apparatus is firmly retained in said holding device.

3. A device for holding laboratory apparatus comprising a base, a frame mounted on said base comprising spaced rigid vertical bars, said frame having an upper member joining said bars, handles attached to said vertical bars, a plurality of leaves, each of said leaves attached to a vertical bar by pin and spring means, said spring pressing each of said leaves therefrom whereby the laboratory apparatus is firmly retained in said holding device and said device being provided with an arm at right angles thereto adjustably attaching said device to an upright standard.

4. A device for holding laboratory apparatus comprising a base, a frame mounted on said base comprising spaced rigid vertical bars, said frame having an upper member joining said bars. wherein said upper member is provided with a removed section, whereby a portion of said laboratory apparatus is exposed between said vertical bars, handles attached to said vertical bars, a plurality of leaves, each of said leaves attached to a vertical bar by pin and spring means, said spring pressing each of said leaves therefrom whereby the laboratory apparatus is firmly retained in said holding device and said device being provided with an arm at right angles thereto adjustably attaching said device to an upright standard.

DAVID PERLSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 283,536 Tuckfield Aug. 21, 1883 454,537 House June 23, 1891 747,475 Perky Dec. 22, 1903 1,485,159 Bartholomew Feb. 26, 1924 1,569,825 Major "Jan. 12, 1926 1,702,555 Watson Feb. 19, 1929 2,050,909 Woodall Aug. 11, 1936 2,215,411 Sebring Sept. 17, 1940 2,287,919 Ulzheimer June 30, 1942 2,483,188 Elger Sept. 27, 1949 

